Prayer rail



Jam 26 1937' J. s. woJTALl-:wlcz ET Al. 2,069,124

PRAYER RAIL Filed NOV. 5, 1934 Patented Jan. 26, 1937 1 NrrEo STAT-Es PTENT OFFICE N PRAYER RAIL Joseph S. Wojtalewic Chicago, Ill., Chicago, Ill.

Application November 2 Claims.

Ourinvention relates to prayer rails, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of 'an improved collapsible structure facilitating transportation and packaging.

'A further object is to provide a collapsible device in which novel means is provided for latching and bracing the collapsible parts in their operating position.

In the drawing:`

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the device;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view substantially along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view along the line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken along the line 'I-I of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional View taken along the line 8 8 of Fig. 3.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate our invention, we make use of a panel I Il associated with two horizontal supports I2 pivotally connected with the panel at I4. Each horizontal support I2 is provided with a leg I6 pivotally connected thereto at I8. Similarly, the panel I8 is provided with two rear legs` 20 pivotally connected thereto at 22. Legs I6 and 26 support the panel I6 in the vertical position of Fig. 1, while the horizontal supports I 2 carry a kneeling board 24 comprising a supporting plank 26 bolted to the horizontal supports I 2 at 28 and provided with padding enclosed within upholstery 32.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the panel I6 is provided with an arm rest 34 along its upper edge, which arm rest is arranged in operative relation with the kneeling board 24 to accommodate worshipers in a kneeling position. Our arm rest 34 comprises. a padded and upholstered structure similar to the kneeling board 24, and is provided with two brackets 36 having slots 38 (see Fig. 3) for the reception of bolts 46 having wing nuts 42 to facilitate connection and disconnection of the arm rest with the panel I0.

An important feature in connection with our invention resides in the collapsible nature of the horizontal supports I2 and the legs I6 and 20. Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the legs 26 are provided with a ange 44 arranged in abutting relation with a flange 46 formed integrally with the panel I0. However, the legs 2D are arranged to be folded underneath the hollow horizontal supports I2, which substantially enclose the legs in z and Qtto F. Wegener,

assignors toilPietro Taddeo,

5, 1934, Serial No. 751,617

their collapsed position, as"A indicated in Fig. 2. Means for latching the legs 2D in fixed relation with the panel lIl] comprises'a bolt 48 carried by each of the" legs 26 and arranged to lie within slots 56 in the two flanges 54cast integrally with the supports I2 when the latter are arranged according to Fig. '2.' We providewing nuts 56 uponthe bolts 48 for pressing the flanges against the flat sides of the legs 20. The flat sides of the legs i'lt snugly within the flanges 54 so that a very slight ilexing of the flanges will cause sufficient frictional resistance against movement between the flat sides and the flanges to cause the legs to be held rmly. Quick collapsibility is attained by merely loosening the wing nuts and folding the legs underneath the horizontal supports.

The front legs I6 are provided with a horizontal ledge 58 arranged to abut a flange 66 associated with their respective horizontal supports when the legs are arranged in their vertical supporting position. Referring to Fig. 7, a set screw 62 is associated with each leg and passes through one of the depending flanges 54 of the horizontal support.

The end of the screw abuts the lug part 66 (see 2 Fig. '7) for latching the leg in its vertical position. It will be noted that the legs I6 are arranged to be folded underneath the horizontalsupports I2. The legs I6 and 20 are substantially self-supporting without the set screw 62 or the bolts 48 because of their pivotal mounting to move in opposite directions. Referring to Fig. 5, it will be noted that bodily movement of the prayer rail as a whole is resisted because of the nature of the pivotal connections between the legs I6 and 20. Our arrangement makes a sturdy construction and one in which simple latching devices effectively hold the legs in their supporting position.

Our panel IU comprises three panels 68, 10, and 12. The central panel 'I0 is provided with two horizontal flanges I4 having end lugs arranged in abutting relation with end lugs on the horizontal flanges 46 on the panels 68 and 12. The panels 68 and 'I2 are provided with vertical flanges 16. Lugs I8 are formed integrally with the panels 68, '10, and l2, and co-operate through the medium of bolts 86 to connect the three panels into a unitary structure. The anges 14, 46, and 'I6 reenforce the assembly.

The central panel IIJ is provided with an opening 82 for the reception of an emblem 84. Referring to Fig. 8, the emblem 84 is provided with a flange 86 arranged to engage a similar ange 88 defining in part the opening 82. 'Ihe flanges are constructed to support the emblem 84 in a plane A' Acommon to the panel 10. Three stud bolts 90 are anchored in the panel 10 and co-operate With threaded members 'I9 extending over the panel 'lll and the emblem 84 for removably supporting the emblem in place. Our construction permits a. variety of emblems to be associated with the panel.

Y Our invention embodies a collapsible feature permitting the legs to be housed within the 'horizontal supports lI2 and the latter swung in the direction of the panel l0 (see Fig. 2) for positioning the kneeling board 24 adjacent the panel. The arm rest 34 may be detached and placed between the panel ID and the kneeling boardV 24.

Thus, we attain a compact arrangement-which provides a small and convenient package for.

handling and transportation purposes. Iii-*addition, our construction is of a sturdy character and one in which a relatively small amount of material is necessary. Y

Without further. elaboration,l the foregoing wil so fully explain our invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

We claim:

1. A device of the type described comprisinga normally. vertical panel, normally horizontal supports pivotally connected upon one face of said panel, said supports being recessed lon'v the under side, a plurality of supporting legs pivotally connected with said panel, each leg being pivotally connected with the panel within the recess of one of said horizontal supports, a bolt carried by each leg, recessed means carried by each horizontal support and extending across the sides of the leg associated with that support, said recesses being aligned to receive said bolts, means co-operating With said bolt for clamping said recessed means to the sides of the leg, and front legs pivotally connected with the forward end of said normally horizontal supports.

2. A device of the type described comprising a normally vertical panel, horizontal supports hingedlylconnected with the panel and being recessed on the under side, supporting legs pivotally connected with the panel within the recesses of said supports,l legs pivotally connected with the free ends of said supports, each of said last-named legs having a shoulder abutting a portionl of the horizontal support associated therewith, each of said last-named legs having an extension abutting another part of the horizontal support associated with that leg, and means for xedly connecting each of said last-named legs with its respective horizontal support.

JOSEPH S. WOJTALEWICZ.

vOTTO F. WEGENEB. 

